North East system could tackle water pollution

A low-cost system designed on Tyneside as a solution to mine water pollution is being piloted in the Lake District

The £1m scheme in the heart of the Lake District National Park features a vertical flow pond designed by Newcastle University

A low-cost system designed on Tyneside as a solution to mine water pollution is being piloted in the Lake District.

The £1m scheme in the heart of the Lake District National Park features a vertical flow pond designed by Newcastle University on behalf of the Coal Authority.

It is the first of its kind in the UK and uses compost made from domestic waste and limestone to treat mine water contaminated with metals like zinc, copper, cadmium and lead. Work has begun at the site of former lagoons at Force Crag mine near Keswick, with the aim of removing the three tonnes of metals which are being discharged every year into Bassenthwaite Lake.

Funded by Defra, the project has four partners – The Coal Authority, Environment Agency, National Trust and Newcastle University. The Coal Authority aims to have the two ponds up and running by early next year. If it proves successful, the technology could be used in other areas.

Dr Adam Jarvis, who is a Reader in Environmental Engineering at Newcastle University, said: “What we have developed is a passive treatment method which removes the metal from the water without the need for energy or chemicals. The aim of the pilot is to test the effectiveness of this new technology on a large scale.”

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